Albany Theatre
107 North Jackson Street,
Albany,
GA
31701
107 North Jackson Street,
Albany,
GA
31701
1 person
favorited this theater
The Albany Theatre opened as “Southwest Georgia’s Magnificent Theatre” on September 12, 1927. Dedicated to “the pleasure loving public of South Georgia”, the Albany Theatre’s premiere program featured H. L. Tallman at the console of the three-manual Robert Morton pipe organ (Opus 2304), Ralph Barnes and his Albany Theatre Orchestra and, on the screen, Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky in “The Magic Flame”. The first director of this Adam-inspired theatre was Homer W. McCallon.
The theatre made a successful adaptation to sound films and remained Albany’s first-run theatre a few years prior to its closing in the 1970’s.
The theatre was purchased from the Farkas Estate by Oglethorpe Development Group, a minority enterprise which began underwriting a restoration of the theatre as a performing arts center.
Contributed by
John Clark McCall, Jr.
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Recent comments (view all 17 comments)
Renovation seems to have gone kaput. Building is now for sale on Loopnet with the front recommended for offices and the auditorium “in need of major repair or tear down.”
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Come on Folks in Albany,Save this theatre,Augusta SAVED THREE of her downtown theatres!
October 15 1973 Now showing “BLACKENSTEIN” Rated PG. I don’t think this movie ever made it to our downtown theatres in Augusta.I had heard about it.Of course.“BLACULA” played.And the Sequel.
May 3 1975
Another Black movie,“SWEET SWEETBACK” is playing.
Jan.2 1977 “MONKEY HUSTLE” is playing.
Feb.18 1980 and no surprize on the movie ,its “BLACK MAGIC” Rated R.
Here’s a January 2011 picture of the Albany.
My first job ever was usher/ticket taker at the “Albany”. I worked afternoons after till closing, and all day Sat and Sun. I made $35 a week. But gas was only about 25 cents a gallon. Fun times.
One of the stars of the Albany’s opening film was Ronald Colman (not Coleman).
Thanks Tom O.Plez post more stories,most all of us worked ,or managed in the business.
this place was opulent by sowega standards. saw ‘green berets’ here, as well as many others. the problem is not that the theater is in disrepair, the problem is that albany is in disrepair. the inner city is pretty much an island where everyone exists on entitlements of one kind or another. it would be ludicrous to invest even one dime in restoring this theater.
This was a magnifcent theatre in the 60’s, very large for a town the size of Albany. I’m of the opinion that all historic movie theatres should be restored, what treasures they are, that we will never experience again, please save the Albany Theatre.